Championship
LeedsLeeds United1BrentfordBrentford0

Leeds United 1-0 Brentford: Eddie Nketiah scores winner on home debut

Eddie Nketiah
Eddie Nketiah's goal was his second in two games in all competitions for Leeds

Eddie Nketiah scored on his Championship debut to earn Leeds United a late but deserved win at home to Brentford.

The 20-year-old, on loan from Arsenal, tapped in from Helder Costa's square ball within four minutes of coming on as a substitute.

The hosts had the better of the game and victory gave them 10 points from a possible 12, seeing them top the early Championship table on goal difference.

For Brentford, the defeat was their second from their opening four league games and their first away from home, leaving them six points behind the strongest starters.

After a relatively quiet first half, Leeds applied significant pressure in the second and finally found a way past the visitors' defence thanks to two of their substitutes.

Wolves loanee Costa - who was introduced with 25 minutes remaining - made a good run down the right and played the ball across perfectly for Nketiah to slot home in the middle.

The England Under-21 international, who joined Leeds on a season-long loan deal from the Gunners on transfer deadline day, also scored at Salford City in the Carabao Cup on his Leeds debut on 13 August.

His goal saw pace-setting Leeds add to their early-season away league wins over Bristol City and Wigan, as they claimed their first home victory of 2019-20 after drawing with Nottingham Forest.

The Bees' best chance to level arguably fell to Said Benrahma in second-half stoppage time, but he blazed well over the bar after the ball had fallen nicely for him just outside the area.

Forward Bryan Mbeumo had hit the post for the visitors in the first half with a left-footed effort from 25 yards out.

Sweden centre-back Pontus Jansson - who scored for Leeds in this fixture at Elland Road last term - captained Brentford against his former club following his July move to Griffin Park for an undisclosed fee.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:

"We deserved to win the game because we dominated the game. We didn't create a lot of chances but we created enough chances to make a difference.

"It was a physical, demanding game and we took control in the best moment of the game.

"Helder Costa is a balanced player who can play on both sides, and Eddie Nketiah can make an impact in the middle. We defended well and our opponents did not have enough clear chances."

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank told BBC Radio London:

"The first half was a top away performance where we pressed high, caused them problems and created opportunities. We did everything more or less right.

"Second half, they put more pressure on us and we were not good enough to keep the ball. We had big desire defending, good organisation and a high line.

"We got through the most stormy parts of the second half and you thought our opportunities would start to come. And then they scored a goal.

"I can't imagine, going forward, a more difficult away ground to go to than this one."

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 13Casilla
  • 15DallasBooked at 63minsSubstituted forBerardiat 78'minutes
  • 5White
  • 6Cooper
  • 10AlioskiBooked at 35mins
  • 23Phillips
  • 19HernándezSubstituted forNketiahat 77'minutes
  • 4Forshaw
  • 43Klich
  • 22HarrisonSubstituted forHélder Costaat 65'minutes
  • 9Bamford

Substitutes

  • 1Meslier
  • 14Nketiah
  • 17Hélder Costa
  • 28Berardi
  • 38McCalmont
  • 44Bogusz
  • 46Shackleton

Brentford

Formation 3-4-3

  • 1Raya
  • 23Jeanvier
  • 18Jansson
  • 5PinnockSubstituted forMarcondesat 89'minutes
  • 22Dalsgaard
  • 8Jensen
  • 6NørgaardBooked at 39mins
  • 3Henry
  • 19MbeumoSubstituted forDasilvaat 67'minutes
  • 11Watkins
  • 7CanósSubstituted forBenrahmaat 79'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Thompson
  • 10Benrahma
  • 14Dasilva
  • 15Forss
  • 17Marcondes
  • 28Daniels
  • 32Racic
Referee:
Andy Davies
Attendance:
35,004

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBrentford
Possession
Home70%
Away30%
Shots
Home11
Away5
Shots on Target
Home4
Away1
Corners
Home8
Away4
Fouls
Home8
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leeds United 1, Brentford 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Brentford 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Saïd Benrahma (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Pontus Jansson.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Pontus Jansson.

  5. Post update

    Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford).

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Emiliano Marcondes replaces Ethan Pinnock.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Liam Cooper (Leeds United).

  9. Post update

    Ollie Watkins (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Patrick Bamford (Leeds United).

  11. Post update

    Ethan Pinnock (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Goal!

    Goal! Leeds United 1, Brentford 0. Eddie Nketiah (Leeds United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hélder Costa.

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (Leeds United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  14. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Saïd Benrahma replaces Sergi Canós.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Gaetano Berardi replaces Stuart Dallas because of an injury.

  17. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Stuart Dallas (Leeds United).

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Eddie Nketiah replaces Pablo Hernández.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United).

  20. Post update

    Mathias Jensen (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Leeds431072510
2Swansea431084410
3Fulham43018269
4Sheff Wed43016249
5Charlton42208538
6West Brom42206428
7Bristol City42116517
8Birmingham42114407
9Millwall421135-27
10Preston42028536
11Blackburn420234-16
12Cardiff420268-26
13Nottm Forest41216425
14Derby41215505
15Reading41126604
16Middlesbrough411245-14
17Hull411245-14
18Brentford411223-14
19QPR411247-34
20Barnsley411236-34
21Wigan410338-53
22Luton401358-31
23Huddersfield401347-31
24Stoke4013510-51
View full Championship table

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